She won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her rendition of the song "Porale Ponnuthayi" from the film Karuththamma. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman, under whose musical direction she recorded many memorable songs. Her distinctive voice, which could effortlessly reach high octaves, quickly made her a name to reckon with in the playback music industry.[2]
(Malayalam: സ്വർണ്ണലത, Tamil: ஸ்வர்ணலதா, Telugu: స్వర్ణలత ; 1973 – September 12, 2010)
Personal life and career
She was born in Athikkodu near Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, to K. C. Cherukutty and Kalyani. Her father was a good harmonium player and singer. Her mother also had interest in music. Swarnalatha was trained on the harmonium and keyboard.[3] Swarnalatha's family later moved to Shimoga, where she had her education.[4] Born in a family of musicians (father K. C. Cherukutty was a singer and harmonium player, while sister Saroja was her music guru initially). Swarnalatha took to music when she was in her teens. She opened her account in films when M. S. Viswanathan introduced her in a duet with singer Dr K J Yesudas. The song was Bharathiar's Chinnanchiru Kili ye , for the film Neethikku Thandanai in 1987.[5]
In 1987, she shifted to Chennai, where she met M. S. Viswanathan. M.S.V. introduced her to the film industry through a duet with K. J. Yesudas, "Chinnanchirukiliye Kannamma" from the film Neethikku Dhandanai.[4] Subsequently, many other music directors approached her to perform their songs. She was recruited by legendary musicians like Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman. She also recorded a few Hindi songs, the most notable one being "Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua" from Rangeela.
She was one of the most versatile singers of her times, as she was able to sing melodies like "Maalayil Yaaro Manathodu Pesa" from Chatriyan[6] or "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuthamma as well as Rahman's experimental songs like "Mukkabla" from Kadhalan or "Mottu Vittadha" from Pavithra. Swarnalatha was the first female playback singer to fetch the National Award in A. R. Rahman's music for the song "Porale Ponnuthayi". Once in an interview, she said that she was moved to tears when she finished the recording of this song and received praise from A. R. Rahman. She recorded many other memorable songs with music directors Deva, Vidyasagar, Harris Jayaraj, Anu Malik, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy,Raj-Koti, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Mani Sharma,Hamsaleka and many others.She had sung all the songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum in the movie Anarkali(tamil dubbed version of the hindi movie mughal-e-Azam) and she was praised by the acclaimed bollywood music director late Naushad Ali.
Character
Swarnalatha was a very quiet and shy woman. She was very camera shy too. Her musical concerts were quite straight, with only her music doing the talking. Once in an interview, her brother said that she knew nothing in this world except the music. She dedicated her entire life to music.Her calmness and character were liked by so many people in the music industry and her fans.Death
Swarnalatha died at a private hospital in Chennai at the age of 37 due to cardiac arrest followed by interstitial lung disease (lung infection) after being admitted because she had difficulty in breathing. The singer had been undergoing treatment for lung infection for over a year and had not recorded for films during the period.[1]Legendary music composer M S Viswanathan, who gave the then 14-year old Swarnalatha a break in films, described her as a very talented singer. She is believed to have approached him first, when she wanted to launch her career in film music. He gave her a chance in the film Needhikku Thandanai. "I was shocked on hearing the news. Swarnalatha was introduced to films by me, and was highly talented in music" he said.[7]
Awards and recognitions
National Award (Silver Lotus Award)- 1995 - National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuththamma
- 1991 - Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for "Povomma Oorkolam" from Chinna Thambi
- 1994 - Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback for "Porale Ponnuthayi" from Karuththamma
- 1994 - Kalaimamani Award by the Tamil Nadu government for her contributions to Tamil music
- 1995 - Nandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer from the Andhra Pradesh government for her contributions to Telugu music
- 1994- Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for "Mukkala Mukabala" from Kadhalan
- 1996- Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for "Hai Rama" from Rangeela
- 2000- Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for "Sunta Hai" from Pukar
- 1996 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Akkadanu Nanga" from Indian
- 1999 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Ulundhu Vithakkaiyilae" from Mudhalvan
- 2000 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Evano oruvan" from Alaipayuthey
- 2002 - Cinema Express Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Thirumana malargal" from Poovellam Un Vasam
- 2002 - "Swarnalatha" (Rakkama Kaiya Thattu) song from the movie Thalapathi (1991) was the topmost in a BBC World Top Ten music poll.
Notable Tamil film songs
In A. R. Rahman's music
| Song | Movie | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "Kummi Adi" | Sillunu Oru Kaadhal | 2006 |
| "Evano Oruvan" | Alaipayuthey | 2000 |
| "Sollaiyo Solai Kili" | Alli Arjuna | 2001 |
| "Orunal Oru Pozhuthu" | Anthimanthaarai | 1995 |
| "Kucchi Kucchi" | Bombay | 1995 |
| "Uyire Uyire" (Chorus) | Bombay | 1995 |
| "Usilampatti Penkutti" | Gentleman | 1993 |
| "Akkadanu Nanga" | Indian | 1996 |
| "Maya Machindra" | Indian | 1996 |
| "Munneru Dhaan" | Indira | 1995 |
| "Nee Etty Etty Thottuvachukka" | Manitha Manitha | 1994 |
| "Anjathea Jeeva" | Jodi | 1999 |
| "Anna Un Tholil" | Jodi | 1999 |
| "Sollu Anbe" | Jodi | 1999 |
| "Yenthen Vaanil" | Kadhal Virus | 2002 |
| "Mukkala Mukkabla" | Kadhalan | 1994 |
| "Kadhalenum" | Kadhalar Dhinam | 1999 |
| "Singore Singore" | Kannathil Muthamittal | 2002 |
| "Poralae Ponnuthayi (sad)" | Karuththamma | 1993 |
| "Madrasa Sutthi" | May Madham | 1994 |
| "Mel Isaiye" | Mr. Romeo | 1996 |
| "Ulunthu Vithaikayilae" | Mudhalvan | 1999 |
| "Chittukuruvi" | Parasuram | 2003 |
| "Mottu Vittatha" | Pavithra | 1994 |
| "Hai Rama" | Rangeela | 1995 |
| "Lucky Lucky" | Ratchagan | 1997 |
| "Mercury Pookal" | Ratchagan | 1997 |
| "Kummi Adi" | Sillunu Oru Kadhal | 2006 |
| "Kadhal Yogi" | Taalam | 1999 |
| "Kuliruthu Kuliruthu" | Taj Mahal | 1999 |
| "Poongatrile" | Uyire | 1998 |
| "Rakozhi Rendu" | Uzhavan | 1993 |
| "Yae Muthu Paapa" | Vandicholai Chinraasu | 1994 |
In Ilaiyaraja's music
| Song | Movie |
|---|---|
| "Sollividu Velli Nilave" | Amaidhi Padai |
| "Mana Madurai" | Anthapuram |
| "Kuruvi Kudaintha" | Azhagi |
| "Aattama Therottama" | Captain Prabhakaran |
| "Malaiyil Yaaro" | Chathriyan |
| "Chithra Kili" | Chinna Devan |
| "Adi Vannathi Poo" | Chinna Jamin |
| "Onnapoothttu" | Chinna Jamin |
| "Anthiyila Vanam" | Chinnavar |
| "Povomma Oorkolam" | Chinna Thambi |
| "Nee Enge" | Chinna Thambi |
| "Naan Aerikkarai" | Chinnaththaayi |
| "Kattu Kuyil Pattu" | Chinna Mapillai |
| "Vennilavu Kothipathu" | Chinna Mapillai |
| "Semparathi Poovukku" | Dharma |
| "Maasi Masam" | Dharma Dorai |
| "Mana Magalea" | Devar Magan |
| "Vayasu Vantha" | En Mana Vaanil |
| "Kuyil Paatu" | En Rasavin Mansilae |
| "Uthama Puthiri" | Guru Sishyan |
| "Aradi Suvaruthan" | Ithu Namma Bhomi |
| "Oru Pokiri Rathiri" | Ithu Namma Bhomi |
| "Kooyil Mani Kettene" | Kanna Unnai Thedukiren |
| "Enga Then Paandi" | Kattabomman |
| "Adi Asa Machan" | Kummipattu |
| "Oorukku Thekkuttu" | Kummipattu |
| "Ammiyila Araichi" | Kummipattu |
| "Uchi Veyilukku" | Kummipattu |
| "Nee Thane Nal Thorum" | Paatu Vathiyar |
| "Kana Karunk Kuyilae" | Paandithurai |
| "Malliye Chinna Mullaye" | Paandithurai |
| "Vidalapulla" | Periya Maruthu |
| "Vidai Kodu" | Piriyadha Varam Vendum |
| "Ooradangum Samathilea" | Puthupatti Ponnuthaye |
| "Malligai Mottu" | Sakthi Vel |
| "Kalaiyil Kettathu" | Senthamizh Pattu |
| "Punnaivana Poonkuyile" | Sevvanthi |
| "Margalithan Odipochu" | Thalapathi |
| "Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu" | Thalapathi |
| "Ennai Thottu" | Unnai Nenachaen Paattu Padichaen |
| "Ennulle Ennulle" | Valli |
| "Unnai Ethir Parthen" | Vanaja Kirija |
| "Sirakadikuthu Kuruvi" | Vanaja Kirija |
| "Aajare" | Vishnu |
| "Naan Thanga Roja" | Time |
| "Malai Kovil Vasalil" | Veera |
| "Madathile Kanni" | Veera |
Notable Malayalam film songs
| Song | Movie |
|---|---|
| "Kadamizhiyil Kamaldalam" | Thenkasipattanam |
| "Manikkakkallal Menju Menanju" | Varnapakittu |
| "Nandalaala Hey Nandalaala" | Independence |
| "Pottukuthedi Pudavachoodedi" | Ravanaprabhu |
| "Balla Balla Ballare" | Punjabi House |
| "Varthingal Thellalle" | Dreamz |
| "Akkuthikkuthaanakkompel" | Mangalya Soothram |
| "Kannoram Kanamuthe Vaa" | Ishtamanu Nooruvattam |
| "Manjil Pootha Sandhye" | Minnaminunginum Minnukettu |
| "Neeyonnu Paad" | Thacholi Varghese Chekavar |
| "Oru Thari Kasthoori" | Highway |
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